Bhatkal: The scheduled election for the post of Bhatkal Town municipal council (TMC) president on Monday did not take place as no member filed a nomination. Consequently, vice president Altaf Kharuri will continue to serve as the incharge president.

Tahsildar Nagendr Kolashetty was present as the election officer to oversee the proceedings. Earlier, the government had reserved the president’s post in the 10th term of the Bhatkal TMC for a Scheduled Caste (SC) woman. However, as there were no women members in the council, vice president Altaf Kharuri approached the High Court, which subsequently issued a stay order on the election process.

Later, the government amended the reservation, allocating the post to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category. Following the lifting of the court’s stay order, September 8 was fixed as the date for the fresh election. Ward No. 19 member Raghavendra Gawali was eligible for the position, but he refrained from filing his nomination.

As a result, vice president Altaf Kharuri will continue as the incharge president until the term of the current council concludes on November 4. The exact reasons behind Raghavendra Gawali’s decision not to file his nomination remain unclear.